Conveying and grouping machines



Dec. 18, 1934- s. c. SIMMONS ET AL CONVEYING AND GROUPING MACHNES FiledJan. 22, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l 1N VEA/TOR s J70/#e7 mmams' Har/7 M.67mm@ Dec- 18, 1934 sfc. SIMMONS ET Al. 1,984,659

CONVEYING AND GROUPING MACHINES Filed Jan. 22, 1934 '5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1ATTORNEYS CONVEYING AND GROUPING MACHINES Filed Jan. 22, 1954 5sheets-sheet 3 N 5 ATTOR EYS Patented Dec. 18, 1934 UNITED STATES.

APATEN'l` OFFirE Simmons, Pittsburgh,

Pa., assignors to Star- Service Hanger Company, Detroit, Mich.

Application January 22, 1934, Serial No. 707,634

" 2s claims.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a conveyor for Wire garment hangers and the like whichis adapted to receive the garment hangers in bundles or unspacedrelation and to space and group them preparatory to removal to anenameling or coating apparatus.

Second, to provide a machine or apparatus for this purpose which ismainly automatic in operation, such manual operations as are requiredbeing simpler and requiring a minimum of effort.

Third, to provide a machine or apparatus for this purpose which is oflarge capacity.

Fourth, to provide a machine or apparatus embodying these advantageswhich isv comparatively simple in structure.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of our invention willdefinitely appear from the description to follow. The invention isdefined in the claims.

A. machine embodying the features of our invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine em- Y bodying the features ofour invention, parts being broken away for convenience in illustration`and parts being shown mainly in conventional form.

Figs. 2 ,and 2A are complementary plan views, the work being shown inseveral positions, but it will be understood that the machine is notcompletely filled with work as in continuous use.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on a linecorresponding to line 3 3 of Fig.

s l, one of the positions of the hangers in removing being indicated bydotted lines.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding to line4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section on line Y 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section on line 6-6 of Fig. 2A.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail section on line 7 7 of Fig. 2A showingdetails of the clutch control and a stop control.

Fig. 8 is a conventionalized View illustrating a group of hangers aslifted from the machine by an operator as by means of a transfer or.supporting rod for the coating apparatus.

In the embodiment of our invention illustrated the machine is of suchlength: as tor serve as a conveyor. It should be understood,l however,that this is varied in practice according to the particular needs of thefactory and that the machine is desirable when used merely for (Cl.ISS-34) grouping and spacing the hangers. We have not attempted in theaccompanying drawings to illustrate the parts in relative proportion.

At one end of the machine is a power unit designated generally by thenumeral 1 comprising a suitable frame and housing containing a motor 2which is connected to the main drive shaft 3 by means of the belt 4 andthe pulley 5-. The main drive shaft has a section 6 provided withthreads, in this embodiment two threads to an inch; a section 7 inadvance of the section 6, having threads four to the inch; a section 8in advance of the section 7 having threads four to the inch. Between thesections 8 and 7 is a short section 9 having threads four to the inchbut substantially deeper than the threads of the section 8. The purposeof this will appear as the description proceeds.

In advance of the section 8 of the shaft 3 is a conveyor feed shaft 10having a threaded section 11 .with threads seven to the inch, and asection l2 with threads four to the inch. This feedv shaft is alinedwith the main shaft 3 but is driven independently thereof, the shaftshaving a journal connection 13. The shaft l0 is driven through the shaft14 disposed in parallel relation to the shaft 3 and intermittentlydriven through the clutch 15. The driven member of the clutch 15 isconnected to the shaft 3 by means of the sprocket chain 16 and suitablesprockets, see Fig. 2A. The shaft 14 is connected to the feed conveyorshaft 10 by means of the sprocket chain 17 and suitable sprockets.

At the rear of the machine and parallel with the shaft 14 is a rockshaft18 controlled by the arm 19 coacting with the cam 20, see Figs. 2A and7. The cam 20 has a lift portion 21 of approximately 270 degrees, thisbeing a timing cam for controlling the rockshaft and through it thevcontrol arm 22 for the clutch 15 so that the shaft lllis intermittentlydriven. The cam 20 is driven from the shaft 3 through the sprocket chain24 and suitable gearing in the gear box 25, the gearing not beingillustrated.

' The object of this connection is to intermittently drive the shaft le.and through it the shaft 10 at suitable speeds relative to the shaft 3.

A shaft 26 is provided, disposed in parallel relation to but in a planebelow the conveyor shaft 3. This shaft has' a threaded portion 27 withthreads two to the inch corresponding to the section or portion 6 of theshaft 3, and a tapered lift portion 28, with threads three to the inch,joining the portion 27 with a portion 29 having relatively shallowthreads approximately one to Aing indicated at 42 and 43.

the inch. In advance of this portion 29 is an unthreaded portion 30having fixed thereto a spiral pick-up spring 31, the turns of which areapproximately four to an inch. This pick-up is supported by a rod 32extending from the rear ends of the slides or steady bars 33. Thethreaded portions of these shafts are supported by bracket bearings 34,the shaftsresting in these bearings so that the threads are exposed andpermit the work to be carried along by the shafts and over or past thebearings.

The work, in this case the garment hangers 35, is of the widely usedtype of wire hangers provided with suspending hooks 36. In practical useof the machine such as the embodiment of our invention illustrated, thehangers are taken from the forming machine and hooked upon the threadedportion 11 of the feed conveyor shaft 10. The only care required is thatthe hooks should all face rearwardly. The hangers are engaged in bundlesof such size as may be convenient for the operator to handle. The shaft10 being intermittently driven as described feeds the hangers alongsubstantially without separating; however, when they reach the portionl2 of this feed conveyor shaft the separation begins as indicated inFig. 2, and they are carried along by this intermittently driven feedconveyor shaft and delivered upon the continuously driven shaft, thesection 8 of which, as described, has threads corresponding to thethreads of the section l2, namely four to an inch. This thread ispreferably quite shallow and has just enough depth to insure that thehangers are advanced.

The purpose of having the section 12 of greater pitch than section 1l ofthe feed shaftis to prevent an excessive pressure on the hangers thatare bunched before or stopped by the stop 37 mounted on the rockshaft 18to swing to and from stopping position. The movement of this shaft, asstated, is controlled by the cam 20, the stop swinging out of the wayfor predetermined periods to allow a predetermined number of hangers topass. The speed of the shaft 3 in the embodiment illustrated is suchthat about fifty hangers will pass while the stop is in retractedposition. The threads ofthe shaft sections 8 and 12 are shallow enoughto permit the hangers being held back by the stop and to prevent theirpiling up or being thrown off the shaft by the pressure of the followinghangers.

As the hangers are carried` forward by the` feed shaft,suspendedentirely from their hooks, the arms of the hangers are broughtinto' engagement with the steady bars 33 which stop any swinging orswaying movement, and the forward end of these bars guides the frontends ofthe hangers to the rotating pick-up spring 3l and tilts thehangers on their hooks as they are carried on to the shaft 26. As thehangers are carried forward to the stop and to prevent the'hooks beinglifted off the conveyor shaft 3 as they are retarded by the stop, theyare engaged by a pivoted yholder 38 which is carried by a bail-shapedframe 39 secured at 40 to the frame or supporting brackets 41. Thisholder 38, which might be termed a doctor bar, is adjustable on :itsbail-shaped support, its attaching means be- 42 may be a pivot and 43 aslot connection permitting the swinging adjustment of this holdermember.

The section 30 of the shaft 26, as stated, is preferably withoutthreads, while the section 29 has coarse shallow threads which, whileacting to carry the hangers along without swaying movement, permitstraightening of the hangers, that is, permits them to come into aparallel relation as they are carried forward by the main conveyorshaft.

A holder bar 44 is pivoted at 45 on an arm 46 projecting from thesupport 39. This bar 44 rests on the hangers as they are carried forwardby the conveyor shaft and then holds them steady as theyV are picked uplby the tapered portion 28 of theshaft 26.` This also enables theseparate or individual picking up of the hangers by such portion of theshaft so that they are delivered thereby singly and in spaced relationto the delivery portion 27 of the shaft 26. The shaft 26 is drivenslightly faster than the shaft 3, the trainof gears designated generallyby the numeral 47 connecting the shaft 26 to the shaft 3 being such` asto accomplish this. The object is to compensate for the lag resultingfrom the retarding action described as the hangers are engaged by theportion 28 of the shaft 26.

When a group of hangers has accumulated at the take-off end of themachine, the operator passes a pick-up rod 48 through the front ends ofthe arms as indicated in Figs. 2A and 9 and positions the rod in thefrontbight of the hanger, and then lifts up thereon as indicated bydotted lines, in Fig. 3. As the forward ends of the hangers are liftedupwardly, swinging the hooks on the conveyor shaft, the rearends comeinto contact with the stripper bar 49, see Figs. 2A and 3, whichdisengages the hooks from the conveyor shaft as indicated in Fig. 3,permitting the operator to place the group of hangers, properly spacedon the bar, on a suitable conveyor or into a dipping or coating machine.The object of the spacing is to properly positionvthe hangers so thatthey are out of contact and may be coated by dipping.

To prevent displacement of the hangers and jamming of the machine in theevent the oper ator should fail to remove the grouped hangers at thetake-off end, we` provide an automatic control 50 which is positioned tobe engaged by therst hanger of the group and to be actuated thereby.,` Amanual control 51 is also provided. Both the automatic and manualcontrols 50 and 51 are connected by the control rod 52 to a controlswitch indicated at 53, see Fig. 1.

`With theparts arranged as illustrated and described, th e feed sectionof the conveyor may be Aofgany length desired, and, it will beunderstood, will vary according to the particular in stallation. Thebalance of the machine, if desired, may be entirely standardized, andfor economy in manufacture is preferably standardized.

In operation the operator serving the forming machines placesv thehangers upon the section 11 of the feed conveyor and preferably someattention is given to the section l2 thereof so that if it becomesoverloaded a number of hanges may be removed and replaced on thesectionll. It will be understood that the capacity of the machine isdetermined by the spacing mechanism andthat it would be possible tooverload the feed end of the machine. However, the feed conveyor ,shaftis driven with a step by step movement, the feed shaft being at rest.while the spacing stop 37 is in actuated position as shown in Figs. 2and 5, thereby preventing the delivery of hangers to the spacingconveyor shaft while they are being grouped in front of the stop. Assoon as the stop is lifted to allow the hangers to pass the feed shaftstarts.,

The hangers are automatically carried along to take-olf position and areproperly spaced and supported in parallel position for removal, asdescribed. To prevent the friction of the feed conveyor and theauxiliary spacing conveyor on the hangers displacing the hangers, theshafts are driven in opposite directions. In the embodiment illustratedthe shaft 3 rotates a clockwise direction and the shaft 26 in ananti-clockwise direction.

We have illustrated and described our improvements in an embodimentwhich we have found entirely practical. We have not attempted toillustrate or describe various modifications and adaptations which mightbe desirable as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilledin the art to embody or adapt our iinprovements as may be desired.

The machine illustrated is adapted for hangers made of different gagesof wire, in fact, for such range in gagesas is found in commercialhangers at the present time.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a mainspacing shaft and an auxiliary spacing shaft disposed at the front ofand in a plane below and parallel to the main shaft, a feed shaftconstituting an extension for the main shaft and having a threadedreceiving portion and a delivery portion with shallow threads ofsubstantially greater pitch than the threads of its receiving portion,the main and auxiliary shafts having take-off portions with threads ofthe same pitch, the main shaft having a receiving portion at its frontend with shallow threads and an intermediate portion joined to thereceiving portion by a short section having relatively deep threads of apitch intermediate the pitch of the threads cf the receiving andintermediate portions, the threads of the intermediate portion being ofless pitch than the threads of the take-off portion, the auxiliary shafthaving an unthreaded front portion and an intermediate portion withshallow threads joined to the take-off portion by a tapered portionhaving threads of less pitch than the threads of the take-olf portion,the unthreaded portion terminating in a coiled springl extension, saidintermediate and front portions of said auxiliary shaft being disposedopposite the intermediate portion of the main shaft, an inclinedsupporting rod for and disposed within the spring extension of theauxiliary shaft, a work stop positioned to engage the work at the rearend of the receiving portion of the main shaft, means for intermittentlydriving said feed shaft, a control means for said feed shaft drivingmeans and said stop whereby the stop is actuated to,y work engagingposition during the periods of rest of the feed shaft, a work holderpositioned to hold the work to the shaft when it is in position to beengaged by said stop, and a work hold-down member disposed to engage thework as it is translated from said intermediate portion of the auxiliaryshaft to the take-off portion thereof.

2. In an apparatus of the class described', the combination of a mainspacing shaft and an auxiliary spacing shaft disposed at the front ofand in a plane below and parallel to the main shaft, a feed shaftconstituting an extension for the main shaft an'd having a threadedreceiving portion and a delivery portion with shallow threads ofsubstantially greater pitch than the threads of its receiving portion,the main and auxiliary shafts having take-off portions with threads, ofthe same pitch, the main shaft having a receiving portion at its frontend with shallow threadsv and an intermediate portion joined to thereceiving portion by a short section having relatively deep threads of apitch intermediate the pitch of the threads of the receiving andintermediate portions, the threads of the intermediate portion being ofless pitch than the threads of the take-off portion, the auxiliary shafthaving an unthreaded front portion and an intermediate portion withshallow threads joined to the take-olf portion by a tapered portionhaving threads of less pitch than the threads of the take-off portion,the unthreaded portion terminating in a coiled spring extension, saidintermediate and front portions of said auxiliary shaft being disposedopposite the intermediate portion of the main shaft, an inclinedsupporting rod for and disposed within the spring extension of theauxiliary shaft, and means for intermittently driving said feed shaft.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a mainspacing shaft and an auxiliary spacing shaft disposed at the front ofand in a plane below and parallel to the main shaft, a feed shaftconstituting an extension for the main shaft and having a threadedreceiving portion and a delivery portion with shallow threads ofsubstantially greater pitch than the threads of its receiving portion,the

main and auxiliary shafts having take-off portions With threads of thesame pitch, the main shaft having a receiving portion at its front endwith shallow threads and an intermediate portion joined to the receivingportion by a short section having relatively deep threads of a pitchintermediate the pitch of thel threads of the receiving and intermediateportions, the threads of the intermediate portion beingk of less pitchthan the threadsv of the take-off portion, the auxiliary shaft having anunthreaded front portion and an intermediate portion with shallowthreads joined to the take-off portion by a tapered portion havingthreads of less pitch than the threads of the take-off portion, theunthreaded portion terminating in a coiled spring extension, saidintermediate and front portions of said auxiliary shaft being disposedopposite the intermediate portion of the main shaft, steady barsdisposed on opposite sides of and in a plane below the receiving portionof the main shaft, the front steady bar carrying an inclined supportingrod for and disposed within the spring extension of the auxiliary shaft,and means for intermittently driving said feed shaft.

4'. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a mainspacing shaft and an auxiliary spacing shaft disposed at the front ofand in a plane below and parallel to the main shaft, a feed` shaftconstituting an extension for the main shaft and having a threadedreceiving portion and a delivery portion with shallow threads ofsubstantially greater pitch than the threads of its receiving portion,the main and auxiliary shafts having take-off portions with threads ofthe same pitch, the main shaft having a receiving portion at its frontend with shallow threads and an intermediate portion joined to thereceiving portion by a short section having relatively deep threads of apitch `internflediate the pitch of the threads of the receiving andintermediate portions, the

threads of the intermediate portion being of less pitch than the threadsof the take-off portion, the auxiliary shaft having a portion withshallow threads joined to the take-off portion by a tapered portionhaving threads of less pitch than the threads of the take-ofi portion, awork stop positioned to engage the work at the rear end of the receivingportion of the main shaft, means for intermittently driving said feedshaft, a control means for said feed lshaft driving means and said stopwhereby the stop is actuated to work engaging position during theperiods of rest of the feed shaft, a work holder positioned to hold thework to the shaft when it is in position to be engaged by said stop, anda work hold-down member .disposed to engage the work as it is translatedfrom said intermediate portion of the auxiliary shaft to the take-offportion thereof. i

5. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a mainspacing shaft and an auxiliary spacing shaft disposed atthe front of andin a plane below and parallel to the main shaft, a feed shaftconstituting an extension for the main shaft and having a threadedreceiving portion and a delivery portion with shallow threads Vofsubstantially greater pitch than the threads of its receiving portion,the main and auxiliary shafts having take-ofi" portions with threads ofthe same pitch, the main shaft having a receiving portion at its frontend with shallow threads and an intermediate portion joined to thereceiving portion by a short section having relatively deep threads of apitch intermediate the pitch of the threads of the receiving andintermediate portions, the threads of the intermediate `portion being ofless pitch than the threads of the take-off portion, the

`auxiliary shaft having a portion with shallow threads joined to thetake-off portion by a tapered portion having threads of less pitch thanthe threads of the take-off portion, and means for intermittentlydriving said feed shaft.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a mainspacing shaft and an auxiliary spacing shaft disposed at the front ofand in a plane below and parallel to the main shaft, a feed shaftconstituting an extension for the main shaft and having a threadedreceiving portion and a delivery portion with shallow threads ofsubstantially greater pitch than the threads of its receiving portion,the main and auxiliary shafts having take-off portions with threads ofthe same pitch, the main shaft having a receiving portion at its frontend with shallow threads and an intermediate portion joined to thereceiving portion by a short section having rela- 'ively deep threads ofa pitch intermediate the pitch of the threads of the receiving andintermediate portions, the threads of the intermediate portion being ofless pitch than, the threads of the take-off portion, the auxiliaryshaft having a portion with shallow threads joined to the takeoifportion by a tapered portion having threads of less pitch 'than thethreads of the take-off portion, a work stop positioned to engage thework at the rear end of the receiving portion of the main shaft, meansfor intermittently driving said feed shaft, and a work hold-down memberdisposed to engage the work as it is translated from said intermediateportion of the auxiliary shaft to the take-off portion thereof.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a drivenspacing shaft and a `feed shaft .constituting an yextension for thespacing shaft and having a threaded receiving portion and a deliveryportion with shallow threads of substantially greater pitch than thethreads of its receiving portion, the spacing shaft having a take-offportion at its rear end, a receiving portion at its front end withshallow threads and an intermediate portion joined to the receivingportion by a short section having relatively deep threads of a pitchintermediate the pitch of the threads of the receiving and intermediateportions, the threads of the intermediate portion being of less pitchthan the threads of the take-off portion, a work stop positioned toengage the work at the rear end. of the receiving portion of the spacingshaft, means for intermittently driving said feed shaft, a commoncontrol means for said feed shaft driving means and said stop wherebythe stop is actuated to Work engaging position during the periods ofrest of the feed shaft, and a work holder positioned to hold the work tothe shaft when it is in position to be engaged by said stop.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a drivenspacing shaft, the spacing shaft having a take-off portion at its rearend, a receiving portion at its front end with shallow threads and anintermediate portion joined to the receiving portion by a short sectionhaving relatively deep threads of a pitch intermediate the pitch of thethreads of the re ceiving and intermediate portions, the threads of theintermediate portion being of less pitch than the threads of thetake-off portion, and a work stop positioned to engage the work at therielaitend of the receiving portion of the spacing s a 9. In anapparatus of the class described, the combination of a driven spacingshaft and a feed shaft constituting an extension for the spacing shaftand having a threaded receiving portion and a delivery portion withshallow threads of substantially greater pitch than the threads of itsreceiving portion, the spacing shaft having a take-off portion at itsrear end, a receiving portion at its front end with shallow threads, awork stop positioned to engage the work at the rear end of the receivingportion of the spacing shaft, means for intermittently-driving said feedshaft, a common control means for said feed 'shaft driving means andsaid stop whereby the stop is actuated to work engaging position duringthe periods of rest'of the feed shaft, a work holder positioned to holdthe worl-z to the shaft when it is in position to be engaged by saidstop, and a driving'control means including a trip arm operativelyassociated with the spacing shaft to be actuated by work advanced to apredetermined point thereon.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a drivenspacing shaft and a feed shaft constituting an extension for the spacingshaft and having a threaded receiving portion and a delivery portionwith shallow threads of substantially greater pitch than the threads ofits receiving portion, the spacing shaft having a take-off portion atits rear end, a receiving portion at its front end with shallow threads,and means for intermittently driving said feed shaft.

l1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a drivenspacing shaft having 'a take-off portion at its rear end, a receivingportion at its front end with shallow threads, a work stop positioned toengage the work at the rear end of the receiving portion of the spacingshaft, a work holder positioned to hold the work to the shaft when it isin position to be engaged by said stop, and a driving 'control meansincluding a trip arm operatively associated with the spacing shaft to beactuated by work advanced to a predetermined point thereon. Y

l2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a drivenspacing shaft having a take-off portion at its rear end, a receivingportion at its front end with shallow threads, a work stop positioned toengage the work at the rear end of the receiving portion of the spacingshaft, and means acting to hold the work to said shaft when it is inposition to be engaged by said stop.

13. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a mainspacing shaft having .succeeding threaded portions of increasingpitch, afeed shaft disposed in axial alinement with the main shaft andconstituting an extension therefor, the feed shaft having succeedingportions thereof provided with threads of increasing pitch, the threadsat the rear portion of the feed shaft and at the front portion of themain shaft being relatively shallow, an auxiliary shaft disposed at theside of and in a plane below the main shaft and having threaded portionsof increasing pitch, means for intermittently driving the feed shaft, awork stop operatively associated with the main shaft at an intermediatepoint, the threads of said main shaft in advance of said work stop beingrelatively sha1- low, and control means for said feed shaft drivingmeans and stop whereby the stop is actuated to work engaging positionduring periods of rest of the feed shaft.

14. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a mainspacing shaft having succeeding threaded portions of increasing pitch, afeed shaft disposed in axial alinement with the main shaft andconstituting an extension therefor, the feed shaft having succeedingportions thereof provided with threads of increasing pitch, the threadsat the rear portion of the feed shaft and at the front portion of themain shaft being relatively shallow, an auxiliary shaft disposed at theside of and in a plane below the main shaft and having threaded portionsof increasing pitch, and means for intermittently driving the feedshaft.

l5. In an apparatus of the class described for spacing wire garmenthangers and the like, the combination of a main spacing shaft havingsucceeding threaded portions of increasing pitch engaging the hooks ofthe garment hangers, the threads at the front portion of the main shaftbeing relatively shallow, an auxiliary shaft disposed at the side of andin a plane below the main shaft and having threaded portions ofincreasing pitch engaging the cross members of the garment hangers totilt the latter, a work stop operatively associated with the main shaftat an intermediate point, the threads of said main shaft in advance ofsaid work stop being relatively shallow, and means acting to hold thehooks to said main spacing shaft when they are in position to be engagedby said work stop.

16. In an apparatus of the class described for spacing wire garmenthangers and the like, the combination of a main spacing shaft havingsucceeding threaded portions of increasing pitch engaging the hooks ofthe garment hangers, the threads at the front portion of the mainshaft'being relatively shallow, an auxiliary shaft disposed atl the sideof and in a plane below the main shaft and having threaded portions `ofincreasing pitch, and means acting to hold the hooks to said mainspacing shaft when they are in 'position to be engaged by said workstop.

17. In an apparatus of the class described for spacing wire garmenthangers and the like, the combination of a main spacing shaft havingsucceeding threaded portions of increasing pitch engaging the hooks ofthe garment hangers, the threads at the front portion of the main shaftbeing relatively shallow, an auxiliary shaft disposed at the side of andin a plane below the main shaft and having threaded portions ofincreasing pitch, means acting to hold the hooks to said main spacingshaft when they are in position to be engaged by said work stop andmeans for driving the main and auxiliary shafts in opposite directions,the threads of one shaft being right hand threads and those of the otherbeing left hand threads.

18. In an apparatus of the class described, the vcombination of a mainspacing shaft having succeeding threaded portions of increasing pitch, afeed shaft disposed in axial alineinent with the main shaft andconstituting an extension therefor, the feed shaft having succeedingportions thereof provided with, threads of increasing pitch, the threadsat the rear portion of the feed shaft and at the front portion of themain shaft being relatively shallow, means for intermittently drivingthe feed shaft, a work stop operatively associated with the main shaftat an intermediate point, the threads of said main shaft in advance ofsaid work stop being relatively shallow, and control means for said feedshaft driving means and stop whereby the stop is actuated to workengaging position during periods of rest of the feed shaft.

19. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a mainspacing shaft threaded to advance and space wire garment hangers havingtheir hooks engaged with such shaft, an auxiliary shaft disposed at theside of the main shaft to support one end of the hangers and threaded toadvance and space hangers resting thereon, and means for driving saidshafts in opposite directions, the

threads of one shaft being right-hand threads v and those of the otherbeing left-hand threads.

20. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a mainspacing shaft threaded to advance and space wire garment hangers havingtheir hooks engaged with such shaft, an auxiliary shaft disposed at theside of the main shaft to support one end of the hangers and threaded toadvance and space hangers resting thereon, and means for driving saidshafts.

21. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a spacingshaft threaded to advance and space Wire garment hangers having theirhooks engaged therewith, and a driving control means for said shaftincluding a trip arm operatively associated with the main shaft to beengaged by work advanced to a predetermined point.

22. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a drivenshaft having succeeding portions of increasing pitch to advance andspace a plurality of garment hangers suspended therefrom by their hooks,a second shaft disposed parallel to said driven shaft and having threadsto advance and space the ends of garment hangers resting thereon andbring them into parallel relation while suspended from the main shaft,and a stripper bar arranged on the inside of the auxiliary shaft tofacilitate the disengagement of the hooks from the main shaft as thehangers are lifted from their forward ends with a tilting movement.

23. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a drivenshaft having succeeding portions of increasing pitch to advance andspace a plurality of garment hangers suspended therefrom by their hooks,and a second shaft disposed parallel to said driven shaft and havingthreads to advance and space the ends of garment hangers resting thereonand bring them into parallel relation while suspended from the mainshaft.

24. An apparatus of the class described `com'- prising shafts threadedto advance and space wire garment hangers supported thereby with thehangers in parallel relation and supported so as to permit rtheinsertion of a rod through corresponding ends of a plurality of spacedalined hangers, and means associated with the shafts to guide thehangers during' the dis@ engaging movement thereof from the shafts.

25. An apparatus of the class described comprising vertically andhorizontally offset shafts threaded to advance and space triangular wiregarment hangers having suspension hooks supported thereby with thehangers in parallel relation, said shafts being arranged to support saidhangers so as to permit the insertion of a rod through correspondingangular ends of a `plurality of spaced alined hangers, and means actingto operate said shafts in unison.

26. An apparatus of the class described comprising means for advancingtriangular wire garment hangers having suspension hooks and spacing andalining them in parallel relation, and positioned so as to permit theinsertion of a rod through corresponding angular ends of a plurality ofthe hangers, said means including a hook engaging screw and a crossmember engaging screw arranged relative to each other to support thehangers in tilted position, and means acting to rotate said screws inunison.

STANLEY C. SIMMONS. HARRY M. SIMMONS.

